Switch for electric railways



(No Model.)

F. '0. BLACKWE'LL.

SWITCH FOR ELEGTRIG RAILWAYS.

No. 463,766. Patented Nov. 24, 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEErcE.

FRANCIS O. BLACKWELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THETHOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,766, dated November'24, 1891.

Application filed January 26, 1891. Serial No. 379,093. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS O. BLACKWELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boston, in the county of Suifolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inSwitches for Electric Railways, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an improved switching device for guiding thecontact-trolley in its passage along the main and branch conductors ofan electric railway, and it is adapted particularly for use withconductors suspended over the car and engaged by an underrunningtrolley.

Briefly stated, it consists in a folding switch section or gate, whichnormally stands in a position guiding the trolley along the main line,but may be turned down, allowing the trolley to ride over it when comingout of the branch line.

The accompanying drawing is a perspective View showing this invention.

A A A are the main and branch conductors, which come together in theusual manner at a switch, and are attached to what is commonly known asa switch-box B, consisting of a horizontal extension-plate C and sideribs D, so arranged as to form 0 branching ways for the guidance of thetrolley. A folding switch section or gate E is suspended from the plateby pivots e 6, extending lengthwise of the gate, so that normallygravity tends to hold the switch in a 5 position closing the way F,assumed herein to be that leading to the branch line. When now thetrolley H is traveling in the direction of the arrow, the branchway F isclosed and the trolley guided past it continues along the main line.When, on the other hand, the trolley is coming out of the branch line,traveling along conductors A -in the opposite direction to that alreadyassumed, it strikes against the gate, folding it over flat- 4'5 wiseinto the dotted-line position, when it runs over it and passes out alongthe main.

The gate will then automatically swing back to its normal position, andif gravity be insufficient to hold it in place, a weak spring may beinserted in the hinge to assist this action. The gate, however, canswing only to the side indicated, for the ribs constitute stopspreventing movement in the other direction.

This forinof switch is simple in construction and reduces to a minimumthe liability of the trolley-wheel getting caught in the switch-box, asthere are no projections either on the switch or at the angle betweenthe branching ways on which the wheel may strike.-

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with main and branch conductors of an electricrailway, of a folding switch or gate pivoted so as to fold down flatwisein the path of travel of the trolley, thereby allowing the trolley topass over it, as set forth.

2. The combination of main and branch conductors of an electric railwayconnected at the branching point by an extension-plate having a planesurface for the trolley to engage, of a folding switch or gate fordirecting the trolley pivoted and swinging on an axis substantiallyparallel with the longitudinal axis of the gate, as set forth.

The combination, with main and branch conductors of an electric railway,of an extension plate provided with ribs forming 8o branching ways forthe trolley, and a folding switch or gate normally closing one of saidways and pivoted on an axis substantially parallel with the axis of thegate, as described. 8 5

t. A switch for electric railways, comprising a plate or box having ribsforming branching Ways, and a gate or switch normally closing one ofsaid ways and pivoted to the plate at its upper end on a pivotsubstantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gate, wherebythegate may be folded down flat against the plate, as set forth.

0. The combination of main and branch conductors of an electric railwayand an exbranehing Ways for the trolley at the switchheld againstmovement in the opposite direcing-point, with a switch or gate suspendedtion, as set forth. to from the extension-piece by a longitudinal Intestimony whereof I have hereto set my pivot, whereby gravity tends tomaintain the hand this 19th day of January, 1891.

gate in a position closing one of said ways, FRANCIS O. BLACKWELL. saidgate swinging freely from its normal po- WVitnesses:

sition in a direction permitting the passage E. L. RAWSON,

of the trolley from out the closed Way, but GEO. R. BLODGETT.

